Collagen peptides and skin moisture in a 12-week trial
What it found
In 44 adults with dry skin, taking 1000 mg of fish collagen peptides daily for 12 weeks improved skin moisture and roughness compared with a placebo.
Skin samples also showed higher ceramide and natural moisturizing factor levels.
What they found
Studies in people
Skin moisture
After 12 weeks, the collagen peptide group's skin moisture rose by 7.33% on average, while the placebo group rose by 2.83%. The difference between groups was significant.
Skin roughness
Cheek roughness fell by 4.09% in the collagen peptide group but rose slightly in the placebo group. The difference between groups was significant.
Natural moisturizing factor
The total amount of natural moisturizing factor in the outer skin layer increased by 31.98 μg/mg protein in the collagen peptide group, while it fell by 16.01 μg/mg protein in the placebo group. The difference was significant.
Ceramides
Total ceramide content in the outer skin layer rose significantly in the collagen peptide group compared with the placebo group. The proportion of people with improved total ceramide was 79.17% in the collagen peptide group and 45% in the placebo group.
Water loss
Water loss through the skin fell by 9.40% in the collagen peptide group and by 2.58% in the placebo group, but the difference between groups was not significant.
Side effects
No side effects or adverse events were observed during the study.
What the authors conclude
“In conclusion, APCP intake in dry skin helps to increase skin moisture and improve the skin barrier function by increasing NMF and ceramide contents in the SC.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that APCP intake in dry skin helps to increase skin moisture and improve the skin barrier function by increasing NMF and ceramide contents in the SC.
- They note that one limitation was that they only analysed ceramides, not cholesterol and fatty acids, among the skin lipids.
- They plan to investigate the improvement in skin barrier function by APCP and their mechanisms of action by analysing the levels of skin barrier-related lipids.
How it was done
The authors wanted to see whether drinking collagen peptides could raise ceramide and natural moisturizing factor levels in the outer skin layer, which help hold in moisture. They were aiming to develop a skin functional food.
They randomly assigned 50 men and women aged 35 to 60 with dry skin to take either 1000 mg of fish collagen peptides or a placebo once daily for 12 weeks. Skin moisture, water loss, roughness and gloss were measured, and tape strips from the forearm were analysed for ceramides and natural moisturizing factors. In total, 44 people finished the trial.
What it can’t tell you
- The study lasted only 12 weeks, so it cannot show whether the effects would last longer.
- The participants all had dry skin, so the results may not apply to people with normal or oily skin.
- The study did not measure cholesterol or fatty acids in the skin, so it cannot show how collagen peptides affect those other skin lipids.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- K.J., S.-H.K., K.-M.J., S.-H.L., E.K., C.W.P., J.R. and W.K. are employee in AMOREPACIFIC Corporation, but all authors declare no conflict of interest.
- Authors work at
- Amorepacific Research and Development Center, Korea; P&K Skin Research Center, Korea
The paper
- Title
- Oral Intake of Enzymatically Decomposed AP Collagen Peptides Improves Skin Moisture and Ceramide and Natural Moisturizing Factor Contents in the Stratum Corneum
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Jung K, Kim SH, Joo KM, et al (2021). Oral Intake of Enzymatically Decomposed AP Collagen Peptides Improves Skin Moisture and Ceramide and Natural Moisturizing Factor Contents in the Stratum Corneum. Nutrients. doi:10.3390/nu13124372Free full textPubMed 34959923DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error